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Paul Hudson was born in St. Marys, Ohio on July 25, 1920, to Hazel Barbara Kellermeyer and W. Earl Hudson. He graduated from Lima South High School in Lima, Ohio, in 1938. In high school Paul excelled in athletics and in his senior year was captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams. He attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland and was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He played basketball and football for WRU and was co-captain of the football team when they won the Sun Bowl in 1941, a highlight of his college career. He graduated in 1942 with a B.A. in German.

He joined the U.S. Merchant Marine in 1942 and shipped out on convoys to England, North Africa and South America. In December of 1943 he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to an amphibious company manning various types of craft. He participated in operations in New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines. He was discharged in February of 1946.

After the war Paul returned to college, receiving a B.S. in Education from Ohio Northern University in 1951. He taught high school science and math and coached basketball and baseball at Farmer, Ohio from 1951-53.

Paul came to Montana to work in the forest service during his school vacations and there met Mary Jane Bulen Stackhouse – they married on Aug. 15, 1953. Paul adopted Mary Jane’s children, John H. “Jack”, and Susan Jane Stackhouse.

Paul then attended the University of Montana and received a M.A. in Zoology in 1956. The family moved to Bigfork where Paul taught science and math and was assistant football and basketball coach at Bigfork High School until 1962. During that time daughters Paula and Martha were born. A move was then made to Great Falls where Paul taught biology and health at Great Falls High School from 1962-65 and then transferred to the newly built C.M. Russell High School where he taught advanced biology and was Science Department Chair. Paul was selected Outstanding Biology Teacher of the State of Montana by the National Association of Biology Teachers in 1970. He retired in 1982.

Besides teaching, Paul was active in the American Cancer Society and served as Public Education Chairman for 12 years and President for two years. He was selected to attend several National Science Foundation Summer Institutes at various universities as a research participant. He also enjoyed working weekends assisting friends Jack Stimpfling and Arlene Reichert at the McLaughlin Research Institute.

In 1997 Paul was proud to travel to Cleveland to be inducted into the Case Western Reserve University Athletic Hall of Fame.

In retirement, Paul and Jane spent time enjoying their grandchildren, relaxing at the family cabin, and keeping in touch with friends and family far and near. Jane passed away in March of 2008. Paul moved from Great Falls to the Horizon Lodge in Conrad in 2010 and has resided there until his death.

A defining feature of Paul and Jane was their love of Airedale terriers. This curly, rambunctious, smiling breed of dog was a continual presence in their home for more than 50 years.

Paul is survived by his children, Jack Hudson of Dallas, Texas, Susan Stone of Cypress, Texas, Paula Hudson of Conrad and Martha Lund of Yakima, Wash.; good friend and fellow teacher Denny Davis of Great Falls; and seven grandchildren.

Paul is preceded in death by his wife Jane, brother Fred Hudson, sisters Marguerite Vogelgesang and Louise Stein, niece Melisande “Miki” Pankow, and nephews David Hudson and Rick Vogelgesang.

To allow for relatives to travel, a celebration of Paul’s life will be postponed until early October. Please email
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or leave a message at (406) 278-5230 if you would like to be notified. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be made at www.schniderfuneralhome.com .